West Jesmond pub The Lonsdale has successfully used social media to track down stolen items after several thefts in recent weeks when outdoor benches and advertisement bollard covers went missing.

The bench thefts occurred at the end of September and beginning of October. Located opposite West Jesmond Metro station, the pub posted on its Facebook page one morning in September, advising that if anyone or a member of their student house had “helped themselves” to one of the pub’s benches at 4:22am that day, it would need to be returned by 5pm otherwise the pub would give footage of the incident to both Northumbria and Newcastle universities. The post also said the theft had been reported to Northumbria Police. 

Two and a half hours after the post was made, the Lonsdale commented on its post: “Thanks lads for returning our table. Much appreciated.”

However less than two weeks later, the pub posted again, alleging that five students had taken a bench at 5:42am the previous day. Once again, it set a deadline of a 5pm same-day return, or the pub would release footage to the universities containing “excellent quality pictures of the 2 who carried it and the 3 who walked in front”, as well as alerting the police. 

The pub also said that any further incidents of students taking their benches would result in the police and universities being contacted “with no warning”. Later in the day, the pub posted a comment: “You cut it soo close lads. 18 minutes left.”

JesmondLocal contacted the Lonsdale to request an official comment and confirm if the second bench had been returned. The pub declined to comment, but a staff member, who asked not to be identified, said bollard covers, advertising special deals, had also been stolen and that there had been an increase in acts of vandalism in recent weeks. 

Commenting on the first bench theft, a Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “An investigation was launched and the pub later confirmed that the seating had been returned. The pub spoke to the individuals in question and confirmed it would not be proportionate to pursue a criminal prosecution.”